Viña del Mar Accessibility Project will be commencing the week of December 2, 2013. The Project will remove the existing raised concrete and brick landing, steps and handrails and replace them with an at-grade scored and colored concrete surface; remove and replace the existing asphalt paving along the easterly side of the landing with a 10’ wide scored and colored concrete surface extending to the existing fountain; remove and replace the existing brick and concrete sidewalk fronting the landing along Bridgeway and replace it with seeded aggregate concrete sidewalk. The existing wooden utility shed will be removed and replaced with an electrical code compliant stainless steel pedestal which will be coated with a fir green coating to minimize visual impact.

At the three corners of the plaza, the intersections of Bridgeway/El Portal, El Portal/Tracy Way, and Bridgeway/Tracy Way, the existing curb ramps will be removed and replaced with new ramps and landings constructed of seeded aggregate concrete along with detectable warning surfaces. The war memorial plaza area southerly of the confluence of Bridgeway and Tracy Way will be modified to accommodate the new level landing and ramp at that intersection.

The project will take approximately eight weeks to construct.

PARKS AND RECREATION

It's a Christmas Tree Lot in Dunphy ParkPlease come down to Dunphy Park to look for your Christmas Tree this Holiday Season. There will be the traditional Douglas Fir, Noble Fir and Grand Fir trees to choose among. Partial proceeds of all tree sales are being donated to help fund the Robin Sweeny Park renovation project. Get your tree and help us raise money for this important project.

Businesses can even make arrangements for pre-orders. Flocking is also available. If you have any questions, contact Jeremy Williams or call 415.377.9678.

The tree lot will be open from November 29th through December 24th from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm (seven days a week).

PUBLIC NOTICES

Public Meeting on the Rehabilitation of the Sausalito Public Fishing Pier The City is engaged in a process to rehabilitate a damaged public pier near the Trident Restaurant to restore public access and fishing opportunities. The pier has been a part of the City as early as 1936 and has been historically used as a fishing pier. The exact date of when the pier was installed is not known, although historical photographs show the pier in existence as early as 1936. The pier was closed to public access in 2001 due to damage caused by the storm of January 11, 2001. Currently, the only remnants of the pier which remain are twenty-one pilings and the pier framing. The City received a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to repair the public pier. A condition of the grant is that the construction be completed by the end of January 2014, but the City is seeking an extension of that deadline.

The OMIT (Outreach, MLK, IT, Transportation) Committee will hold a public hearing on Thursday, December 12 at 6:00pm in the Council Chambers at City Hall to discuss the community’s desire for a public pier at the existing pier location, and what it should look like, given code constraints (which require the portion of the rebuilt pier over water to be elevated, and access to the higher level provided).

How to get involved, ask questions or view the plans: Come to the OMIT meeting on December 12! You can also e-mail Lilly Schinsing, Administrative Analyst or call her at: (415) 289-4134. You can also hand deliver a letter to the Administration Department, 420 Litho Street, Sausalito, CA 94965, prior to the meeting.

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Seeking comments on Draft Environmental Impact Report (Draft EIR) for a single use carryout bag reduction Ordinance for Marin County Cities and Towns. The proposed ordinance would regulate the use of single use plastic and recyclable paper carryout bags within the jurisdictional limits of all or some of the cities and towns located in Marin County, including Sausalito. The ordinance would (1) prohibit the free distribution of single use plastic and recyclable paper carryout bags and (2) require retail establishments to charge customers (at least $0.05) for recycled paper carryout bags and, generally, reusable carryout bags, at the point of sale. The Proposed Ordinance would not apply to restaurants and other food service providers, allowing them to provide single use plastic carryout bags to customers for prepared take-out food intended for consumption off of the food provider’s premises. The intent of the ordinance is to reduce the environmental impacts related to the use of single use carryout bags, and to promote a shift toward the use of reusable carryout bags. It is anticipated that by prohibiting single use plastic carryout bags and requiring a mandatory charge for each recyclable paper carryout bag distributed by retailers, the Proposed Ordinance would provide a disincentive to customers to request recyclable paper carryout bags when shopping at regulated stores and promote a shift to the use of reusable carryout bags by retail customers, while reducing the number of single use plastic and recyclable paper carryout bags within the ten participating cities and towns.

A PDF of the Draft EIR is available at: http://zerowastemarin.org/assets/PDFs/Marin-County-JPA-Carryout-Bag-Reduction-Ordinance-DEIR.pdf and a hard copy is available for review at the Community Development Department at 420 Litho Street. Comments on the Draft EIR are due by 5:00 pm on December 15, 2013. For questions and information on how to submit comments please contact Steve Devine, Program Manager at the Marin County Hazardous and Solid Waste Management Joint Powers Authority (JPA) 899 Northgate Drive, Suite 100 San Rafael, CA 94903, (415) 473-2711.

The Marin Commission on Aging is holding a presentation on Thursday, December 12, 2013 at The Redwoods at 40 Camino Alto, Mill Valley from 10:00am-11:00am. This is open to the public.

Be Wise: Prevent Fraud Scams & Identity Theft
Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the U.S. with more than 12 million victims each year. Just being careful isn’t enough to protect your personal information. If you are serious about taking steps to protect yourself from being a victim, this forum is for you.

By attending this presentation, participants will learn:
What information should NEVER be disclosed over the telephone What you can do to avoid scams, fraud and identity theft, and why it’s okay to hang up on telemarketers.

Presenters include:
R. Oak Dowling: Retired with 43 years of experience practicing law in the areas of elder law, estate planning and conservatorships

Roberta Robinson: Retired Vice President and Manager, Bank of America Both presenters are members of the Marin County Financial Abuse Specialist Team

Holiday Open House on Caledonia Street
Many of stores, galleries and businesses on Caledonia Street are hosting Holiday Open Houses on Thursday, December 5th from 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Residents are encouraged to come to Caledonia Street that night and enjoy some festive cheer where there will be hors d’oeuvres and wine throughout. There will also be many unique gift items on sale . . . so remember to come and celebrate this very special and festive Open House on Caledonia Street.

Artists Exposed! The ICB Winter Open Studios celebrates its 45th year with over 80 visual artists opening their studios to the public. For the 45th anniversary, the collective of artists is borrowing from Warhol's use of the screen test. Get a visual preview of the artists by visiting Gallery 111 on the ground level where the screen tests will projected on the walls and looped creating a stunning art installation. It will be the artists' 40 seconds of fame all weekend long.

A Christmas Choral Celebration: A STAR AS BRIGHT AS DAY
The Sausalito Presbyterian Church presents its annual Christmas choral concert on Sunday, December 8, 2013, 5pm.

Traditional and contemporary carols and chants performed by the Church choir, under the direction of Music Director, Ralph Hooper. Accompanied by acclaimed harpist Dan Levitan and enriched by the inspired Christmas poetry of traditional and contemporary voices read by Julie Carlson. Includes works by Malcolm Archer, Benjamin Britten, Bob Chilcott, David Conte, Morten Lauridsen, John Rutter and others.

Sausalito Presbyterian Church, 112 Bulkley Avenue.

Sausalito Woman’s Club Holiday Open House
You are WELCOME to invite your family, friends and neighbors to enjoy hospitality and good cheer, along with gourmet treats and libations. There will also be fun caroling and Santa.

Join us in our traditional event on Sunday, December 8 from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm at the Sausalito Woman’s Club, 120 Central Avenue, Sausalito.

Sausalito Village will feature a presentation by a chamber group from Marin Symphony Youth Orchestra at its monthly meeting at the Edgewater Room, Sausalito City Hall, 420 Litho Street, Sausalito, on Wednesday, December 11 at noon. Participants are advised to bring a brown bag lunch. This program is open to the community and free of charge.

The highly acclaimed Marin Symphony Youth Orchestra has been providing young, gifted musicians with an opportunity to participate in a rich and rewarding orchestral community since 1954. The orchestra season follows the academic school year during which they perform a winter and spring concert, along with several Sit-In Concerts as an outreach to local elementary schools. The orchestra is composed of approximately 80 auditioned high school and middle school musicians in Marin and neighboring communities.

TIP OF THE MONTH FROM YOUR BOARDS/COMMITTEES AND STAFF

Tree Committee:

Tree Tip for December 2013
Considerations for Tree and Shrub Plantings

Tree and shrub selection can be critical to the beauty and value of your property. Thus, care in choosing with knowledge of a plant's characteristics, growth patterns, and siting will ensure years of beauty and enjoyment. Some general parameters may aid this process:

• Is your tree or shrub evergreen or deciduous; or, even an "undesirable" species as defined by Sausalito ordinance?
• Is the plant slow or fast growing (more than 3 feet of growth in one year)?
• Are you planting in a public right of way or utility easement?
• How will the planting affect your own or your neighbors' light and views in one, five or twenty years?
• What will be the annual costs of pruning and maintenance?
• Is the plant appropriate for Sausalito's coastal zone? What are its water and light needs?

The advice of a good plant specialist, nursery or arborist may prove invaluable. A perusal of Sausalito's Tree and View Ordinance may be highly instructive and informative. For more information, visit the web site or contact Administrative Analyst Lilly Schinsing at LSchinsing@ci.sausalito.ca.us or (415) 289-4134.